Christmas Poems , Stories and Winter Tales.

Christmas Poems, Stories and Winter Tales from Glasgow Writers

Lots of my talented writer friends have responded to my request for Christmas Poems, Stories and Winter Tales – I’ve been enjoying reading them and know you will too. There’s plenty of choice: some are sweet and poignant; some are hilarious; plus there’s sadness, joy, profanity and more than a little irreverence – they’re all great. The menu is on the right and more to come.. :)

The talented Glasgow poet Calum Maclean reveals his thoughts on Christmas. I Deserve This I must’ve been the architect of some outrageous larceny, my henchmen thieving priceless jewels delivered to me personally. Presumably, I used that swag to fund an act of treachery, facilitated shady deals, created instability, ensured elections swung my way, indulged in […]

(Margaret Harrison, Freewoman of Dumbarton, life-long peace campaigner and activist for human rights. A remarkable woman who, at the age of 95, has not lost hope of world peace. Whilst acknowledging and respecting opposing viewpoints she has never swerved in her convictions or in working to achieve peace through non-violent protest.) The Forgotten They used […]

FROHE WEIHNACHTEN (My Christmas poem for friends old and new.) On Christmas Eve, mum softly sang Stille Nacht. Busy with final preparations. Scotch pine, I recall her telling dad. Best for keeping its needles. She clipped red candles onto green sprigs, placed small bowls of walnuts, almonds and hazelnuts at the base of the tree. […]

Christmas 2018 I’m wrapping your present with delicate care, While sweating and shaking with tape in my hair. I wish I could do it with style and aplomb, Instead it’s much more like defusing a bomb. The paper’s dishevelled, all battered and creased, Though the cartoons of Reindeer are festive at least. There might be […]

‘it’s me. Colin. Let me in.’ Her brother nearly fell on top of her as Cora opened the door. ‘What’s up?’ She caught his arm as he staggered. ’Looks worse…that’s his, no mine.’ He patted his bloodstained shirt. ’My God. Look at the state of you.’ She helped him to the couch. One eye was […]

Christmas Day Everything old was new again. The rust on the tin roofs of the outhouses disappeared. The black pitch on the byre – gaping and torn down to the rotten cladding was covered in the cold white of Christmas morning. A small robin landed lightly on the window sill, barely marking the untouched […]

‘Most of us look forward to a traditional Christmas dinner with all the trimmings, and many enjoy a drink on Christmas Day. 🥃🍷 This time of year is such a fun time for most children and families, but I’d like you to remember that it can also be a very sad time of year […]

‘Between Christmas and the year you never knew’ A terrible time of year to go. Not a holiday, but expiring. Accepting that the wiring in your body is loose; heart attacks caused by Star Jumps or having the stomach pumped after an uninspiring vindaloo. Between Christmas and the year you never knew when the Cat […]

A Christmas Story by James Connarty Joe went to Bethlehem once. It wasn’t Christmas Eve though. It was the height of Summer and he’d had to douse himself with insect repellent to keep the mosquitos from biting his face aff. His pals thought he’d cracked up, using his redundancy money like that – a mid-life […]

Mind and phone me,’ said Maureen. ‘I’ll give you a ring tomorrow.’ ‘Sure you don’t want me to wait?’ Polly didn’t answer. ‘Number 92 mind.’ ‘I know. And you’re the Northern Line. Would ye just go. I’ll be fine.’ Maureen shrugged her backpack on and walked away. Polly could sense her looking back as she […]

(I’ve been enjoying James’ very humorous stories about Scuffer Airways and requested a Christmas addition to add to my Festive Poems and Stories on the site. Thanks very much, James). Merry Christmas from Scuffer Airways Good morning, ladies and gentleman, boys and girls, and welcome aboard this very special Scuffer Airways flight to Lapland. In […]

Begorrah! Children, cover your eyes. I’m a grown-up’s pudding. Dark and tempting oozing cream liquered filling really means that after babes have gone to sleep I’m for sharing with those who keep late hours, and, yes a little wine to drink with me dessert of course, ah, can you see my gorgeous curls which […]

Thursday 23 December Midnight Dear Diary Been thinking all day about the Prince’s Ball. Grimelda and Safi have been a nightmare all day ordering me around, getting everything ready for THEM. No time for cleaning. I’ll pay for that! Not even had five minutes to myself and been close to tears all day. But didn’t […]

Ruby is a young woman who lives at home with her mother, father and little brother. She lives in a part of Glasgow called Giffnock, where there are nice houses with big gardens so that everybody there feels very lucky. Most of her days are straightforward – the odd calamity happens of course, like losing […]

Ice on Loch Lomond, Christmas and Christmastide Three poems by Catriona Malan, Helensburgh Ice on Loch Lomond That was the winter the loch froze over stealing reflections from the hills, and laying its pale shawl on their shoulders. Islands, feeling they were trapped, huddled sullen in the cold as the wind shaved the bracken of […]

I drove through the sticks over the thick ice and frozen muck that gripped the backroads. The countryside was pitch black, abandoned, with lonely houses spread out like rare driftwood amongst the ditches. My mother was wrapped up in the passenger seat. Her nose poking out from her head scarf as she eyed the road. […]

A peaceful Christmas greeting After a month’s trouble in France let’s hope that the festive period is calm, wherever we live. Here in rural France life carries on as usual and there are lots of Christmas markets and musical events that have been quietly getting underway. In Salignac, the cluster of fairy lights decorating the […]

From a valley place he came. A north man. The Scotsman. Fatherly to see, hardy spined, here in lowland Howwood a fortnight to fix a chapel rooftop. Eight till five daytime shifts. Grey then black hours. He the gaffer, a one man service, jacketed and booted, given hammer-tap at the slates. Afternoons, December crept dark […]

Inspector Bjørn Torvik was in heaven. As the scorching Costa Rican sun warmed his weathered face, Torvik’s senses were immersed in the incredible fragrances drifting across from the coffee plantation. He could almost taste the full-bodied fruitiness, the sweetness of caramel, the hint of vanilla. If he just reached out, he could – An explosion […]

A Festive Story by Leela Soma Twelve days of Christmas She is excited, super excited from the moment she sees the tinsel and the baubles in the shop. October this year! Twelve days of Christmas? No, not for her. My nerves are frazzled from October onwards. She calls her friend excitedly. Day – 1. “Guess […]

The invalid January hobbles along un balan ced Paying for the consequences of December Nothing to do but learn… Premature The weather changed to snow confetti –fluttered showers, soft as baby’s breath.Kissed her eyelids, cooled her burning tears.They lowered the coffin, laid her child to rest. Pause for […]

Several years ago, being appalled at the amount of money I was spending on postage for Xmas cards I resolved that was it. No more. I duly informed people of my decision. Some still send cards, others donate £1 to their local charity and others stopped talking to me. Ok, there were only two but […]

The Office Party Sylvie sat in the booth at the back of the café. She watched as Karl came in, struggling to open the double doors in the strong wind. They slammed behind him as he stamped his boots on the big ‘Welcome’ mat. He grinned when he spotted her and as he got closer […]

29th February, 2012 The 29th February only comes along every four years so it’s a very special day. Yesterday was that date and I spent the day in Glasgow’s West End and it turned out to be particularly enjoyable, not least of all because it was a really beautiful day, our first this year. In […]

Ishbel is in her late 80s, has lived in Dumbarton most of her life – has had several sojourns abroad – and moved to Alexandria on retirement. She writes personal memoires as well as poetry about nature and ‘beliefs’ Christmas Stars Star of wonder and hopeleading us to the Christ child Desert starsilluminating mosques and minaretwhere the […]

We Only Know. By Maggie Graham. Hail Hail I don’t know what possessed me to come to the Barras. Mum used to bring me here on Saturdays when Dad was at the match. It would be dark by the time we got home and we’d get fish and chips for our tea. Dad was never […]

Once upon a time there lived a small bird whose name was Little Robin. He was playful, obedient to his parents, always respected his elders and tried to help whenever he could. He wasn’t shy and always tried to speak the truth. At this time all robins were brown in colour and they lived in […]

Chestnuts roasting on an open fire, click. Chestnuts roasting on an open fire, click. Well no chestnuts, a ‘flame effect fire’ – and three pot heads – all being comfortably roasted. The needle kept jumping on the record but nobody moved from the couch. A flame effect fire can keep you entertained for hours. A […]